No doubt it’s going to be weird seeing Damon in a happy, committed relationship, but from all accounts, that’s exactly what will be happening in Season 5 as he and Elena continue to go strong. Those worried that Damon will lose some of his edge now that he’s in love need not fear, according to Caroline. She said the TVD writers crafted Season 5 with the same concern in mind: “I sat down to write a scene with him, and it was like [makes a disgusted noise]. You don’t want to do a cheesy version of that [relationship], so it’s keeping the Damon edge and darkness, because that to me is what Elena signed on for,” said Caroline. “So it’s [we] make sure he still possesses all the Damon-isms and stuff, but he’s just happy.” Phew. Damon’s still Damon! Which, according to Caroline, includes the vamp “getting a kick” out of Katherine newfound humanity.

Bonnie (Kat Graham) may have sacrificed her life for Jeremy’s (Steven R. McQueen), but is there any chance the witch will find a way back to the land of living, like so many TVD characters before her? Caroline said that will definitely be a plot question moving forward: “I don’t know if it’s going to work or not, but the idea does come up, because we’ve thrown enough people [over to the side of death] and thrown enough people back that it’s like, what about Bonnie? It’s a story engine.”

As for one of Mystic Falls’ last humans, Caroline said that Matt (Zach Roerig) and Rebekah (Claire Holt) have “a fun dynamic” in the Season 5 premiere after having spent the summer gallivanting around Europe together and that Matt comes back much more worldly. But, fear not! Matt Donovan has not changed completely: “He was Matt Donovan who worked at The Grill. Now he’s Matt Donovan who works at The Grill and has cool pictures,” joked Caroline. Here’s hoping Matt makes Elena and Caroline (Candice Accola) sit through a slideshow presentation chronicling his trip.

Speaking of the blond vamp, Caroline will be starting at Whitmore College in Season 5, and — in true Caroline fashion — already “has everything arranged and decorated.” But she still has time for Tyler (Michael Trevino), who is back from his Klaus-imposed exile: “The Tyler thing, that’s her story in the first few episodes: figuring out where she stands with Tyler,” said Caroline. “We’re still rooting for them.”

Meanwhile, Stefan (Paul Wesley) is having the worst time possible. Caroline says, “he suffers and his stories are heartbreaking, but we get to see a big story with him.”

Poor Stefan! And even when he gets out of that box, he won’t have much to look forward to, except his brother and his ex being a couple-y.